Skyland Conference Delaware Division Girls Soccer Preview Capsules
BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN
Coach: Chris Gerber, fifth season
Last year’s record: 17-8
Top lettermen lost: Hayley Soriano (M), Samantha Orecchio (F), Abby Ousouljoglou (M), Taylor Mongno (DF), Lex Barbagallo (GK), Ashley Skayhan (DF), Erika Lepik (DF), Jessica Chong (DF), Delaney Reilly (F).
Returners: Julia Lytle (Sr., M), Addison Reilly (Sr., M), Jezlyn Jimenez (Sr., M), Alexa Comune (Sr., F), Cheyenna Cook (Jr., DF), Lauren Riga (Sr., DF), Brittany Blair (Sr., M), Madison Livermore (Sr., F), Jordyn Kowal (Sr., F), Brianna Crovelli (Sr., M), Marissa Cook (Sr., GK), Diza Hasanaj (Jr., F), Melanie Lytle (So., M), Mia Phillip (So., GK).
Newcomers: Elizabeth Pacillo (Sr., M), Alyssa Gada (Sr., DF), Marlayna Salvesen (Sr., M), Emily Pribula (Sr., DF), Carolyn Doell (Jr., DF), Stephanie Lowrey (Jr., M), Elena Tanga (Jr., GK), Samantha Vail (Jr., F), Allison Lynch (So., DF), Kristina Ng (So., DF), Kelly VanValkenberg (So., M), Morgan Winchock (So., F), Francesca Escodero (So., DF), Allison Lowrey (Fr., F).
Outlook: The Panthers are looking to build off of last season’s successes, which found them in the Somerset County and North 2 Group IV finals, but they will have to find a way to do it without 2015’s ace, All-Area pick, Soriano. This year, BR will showcase a good mix of veterans and newcomers which is sure to makeup a very talented team. The attack will be led by Jimenez, Lytle and Reilly, while Riga and Cook will protect the back. Gerber said that the goals for this season are the same as year’s past, which is to compete for trophies in the conference, county and state.
RELATED: WESTFIELD GIRLS SOCCER AIMING FOR DOMINANT SEASON
MORE: PREVIEW CAPSULES: UNION COUNTY, INDEPENDENTS, GMC
READ: GIRLS SOCCER MOUNTAIN DIVISION PREVIEW CAPSULES
READ: GIRLS SOCCER VALLEY DIVISION PREVIEW CAPSULES
READ: GIRLS SOCCER RARITAN DIVISION PREVIEW CAPSULES
HILLSBOROUGH
Coach: LeeAnn Best, 15th season
Last year’s record: 9-9-1
Top lettermen lost: Sam Boyer (M), Tori Minutillo (DF), Ally Cichon (F), Carrie Seelig (F), Emily Washbourn (DF), Kate Swetz (DF).
Returners: Kristen Malebranche (Sr., DF), Alana Baron (Sr., F), Sophia Bjerregaard (Sr., F), Maddie Vailhe (Sr., M), Cameron Howell (Jr., M), Olivia Panagos (Jr., DF), Lauren Mazich (Jr., F), Alanna Ryan (Jr., F), Amelia Curtis (Jr., M), Olivia Bandola (So., GK), Delaney Smith (So., DF), Erin Washbourn (So., DF).
Newcomers: Courtney Skikus (Sr., DF).
Outlook: After finishing fourth in their division and making it to the semifinal round of the Somerset County Tournament in 2015, the Raiders return suffering the loss of great talent to graduationt, but return a solid group. Veteran skipper Best expects to finish this season within the top three of the Skyland Delaware conference. With Malebranche and Baron taking on leadership roles, Best also hopes to see Hillsborough in the county final match and has set a goal to win three postseason matches. The Raiders averaged 2.1 goals per game in 2015, which was among the top three performances in their division. Hillsborough will need to keep the offensive momentum going in order to stay astride with a stacked Skyland Delaware.
HUNTERDON CENTRAL
Coach: Jeannine Calhoun, eighth season
Last year’s record: 18-5-1
Top lettermen lost: Bristol Pizzuto (GK), Lizzie Knoop (F), Gabby Provenzano (Sr., M, injured), Alicia Colossi (F).
Returners: Hannah Merlo (Sr., DF), Sarah Hazard (Sr., M), Sarah Kolody (Jr., GK), Luciana Zullo (Sr., F), Maggie Bixby (Sr., F), Dana Flood (Jr., F), Brianna Floyd (Jr., F), Mackenzie Mullins (Sr., DF), Brie Pavol (Sr., M), Samantha Senatore (Jr., DF), Caitlyn Adams (Jr., M), Gabby Vitale (Sr., DF), Noelle Golden (Jr., DF), Shaye Seyffart (Jr., DF).
Newcomers: Ava Gillikin (So., GK), Ally Brennan (Sr., M), Brooke Parker (Sr., DF), Corinna Zullo (Fr., F), Kylie Roesler (So., DF), Anna Davis (Jr., M).
Outlook: The Red Devils won their fourth straight Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament title last season and advanced to the Central Group IV final, and with lonly a handful of graduation losses, the expectations are high again in 2016. Hunterdon Central’s one major snag is the loss of senior and Rutgers-commit Pizzuto who suffered an ACL injury during last year’s campaign. Either Kolody or Gillikin will take her place between the pipes, and with a veteran defense in front of her, either girl will be well-protected. Zullo, University of South Carolina commit, will be a force to be reckoned with on the attack as she attempts to improve on her 13 goals and eight assists from last season. Seyffart, Merlo, Hazard and Mullins will take on leadership roles and Calhoun said that these girls are determined for a successful season after suffering bitter losses in the past. The Red Devils will be without senior Gabby Provenzano, who is still recovering from last season's knee injury.
PINGRY
Coach: Lauren Molinaro, first season
Last year’s record: 10-11
Top lettermen lost: Madie Temares (M).
Returners: Rose Beatty (Sr., DF), Ellen Beatty (Sr., M), Cameron Campbell (Sr., DF), Natalie Lucciola (Sr., DF), Sophie Morris (Sr., DF), Sarah Moseson (Sr., DF), Eleanor Palmer (Sr., DF), Nicole Preziosi (Sr., F), Alexis Elliot (Jr., M), Mairead Higgins (Jr., M), Emma Lombardo (Jr., DF), Ally Pyne (Jr., DF), Abby Beckman (So., GK), Ava Dziadzio (So., F), Caroline Friend (So., M), Natalia Ramirez (So., M), Emily Veila (So., M/DF), Simone Toney (So., GK).
Newcomers: Alexandra Weber (Fr., F), Emma Capana (Fr., M), Madisyn Pilla (Fr., F), Leah Mangold (Fr., M).
Outlook: Molinaro takes over the head-coaching duties from Andrew Egginton, who stepped down after 15 seasons, and the first-year skipper has high expectations for the Big Blue, as always. Temares, a first-team All-Area pick, is the biggest graduation loss, but the coach said she has a number of strong returners and an extremely strong incoming class. She is looking for strong performances from returning players such as Moseson, Ramirez, Dziadzio, Campbell, Lombardo, Friend, Pyne, Higgins and Beckman as well as key newcomers in Mangold, Weber, Capana and Pilla. "The great thing about this year’s team is that we have depth in a number of positions, Molinaro said. "Our starting lineup will be strong, and we will also have a number of very solid players on the bench that will contribute." Moseson and Campbell will handle the leadership, but this year’s team has a number of smart, capable, tough personalities, so Pingry will be looking to see some leadership from not only its seniors, but all the way down to the freshman class, Molinaro said. Overall, she is looking for her club to play possession with a purpose, attack with the objective of scoring goals and defend as smart and as hard as possible to prevent opponents from scoring. Most of all, she said, they need to play as a team.
RIDGE
Coach: Katie Donahue, ninth season
Last year’s record: 23-0-1
Top lettermen lost: Shannon Keefe (D), Erin Convery (DF), Chrissy Weyrauch (M), Samantha Carney (GK), Brielle Farrell (M).
Returners: Julia Lindsey (Sr., M/F), Ally Friedman (Sr., DF), Olivia Melnyk (Sr., M/F), Anna Hess (Sr., M/F), Amanda Cox (Sr., M), Erin Keefe (Jr., M/DF), Sammie Weyrauch (M), Emma Wightman (Jr., DF), Maddie Lui (Jr., DF), Kaitlyn Madden (Jr., DF/F), Ally Lindsey (So., GK).
Newcomers: Caitlyn Laffey (Jr., F), Katie Arrigan (Jr., F).
Outlook: How does a team that finished undefeated, won its division, the county, its section and shared the state Group IV championship come back and improve on last year? It can only strive to repeat the success. The Red Devils return after their winningest season since 2003, but with a hearty lineup of experienced juniors and seniors they should have no problem falling back into step. Donahue said that Friedman will assume a leadership role in anchoring the back line, while Lindsey will be on the offensive forefront. Hess will look to be dangerous on the flank and Melnyk is expected to have a breakthrough season being called upon to put the ball in the back of the net. Cox will serve as a creative and crafty play-maker.